Big Bash hero Mitchell Owen has steered Australia towards a three-wicket win in the T20 series opener against the West Indies, with the debutant clobbering 50 (27) at Kingston’s Sabina Park on Monday morning AEST.
Chasing a 190-run target for victory, the tourists were in a spot of bother at 4-78 in the ninth over before Owen and Cameron Green combined for a match-winning 80-run partnership for the fifth wicket. The Tasmanian all-rounder, who helped the Hobart Hurricanes win their maiden BBL title last summer, smacked six sixes at the Jamaican venue as Australia reached the target with seven balls to spare.
Later named player of the match, Owen became just the third Australian to score a half-century on debut in men’s T20Is, joining Ricky Ponting and David Warner on the illustrious list.
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“I’m firstly happy we got the win, it was nice to contribute,” Owen said during the post-match presentation.
“I was lucky enough I got a few away early and was able to settle into my innings.”
The Australians cleared the boundary rope on 17 occasions, one less than the national record in T20Is, while Green notched a 26-ball 51, his fourth half-century in the format.
Earlier, the West Indies were restricted to 8-189 after Australian captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl first, with captain Shai Hope and Roston Chase blasting rapid fifties.
The duo added 91 in a damaging second-wicket partnership before Shimron Hetmyer cracked three sixes in a late cameo, but the hosts stumbled at the final hurdle when Australian quick Ben Dwarshuis ripped through the middle order, claiming three wickets in the penultimate over.
Dwarshuis snared career-best figures of 4-36 from four overs, while spinner Adam Zampa conceded just two boundaries in an economical spell.
MATCH CENTRE: West Indies vs Australia first T20 scorecard
The West Indies openers scored 32 from the first three overs in an explosive start before young all-rounder Cooper Connolly broke the stand on his second delivery, with Brandon King stumped for 18 after recklessly charging down the wicket.
Chase hit two elegant sixes against Australia’s spinners and three consecutive boundaries against seamer Sean Abbott before racing towards a 25-ball half-century, his fastest fifty in the format. The Barbadian departed in the 13th over after miscuing a slog against Dwarshuis and picking out long-on, gone for 60 (32).
Hope thumped veteran Glenn Maxwell’s first delivery out of the ground before passing fifty with a one-handed six against Zampa, reaching the minor milestone in 37 balls. Soon after, the dangerous Hetmyer top-edged a six against Owen before the debutant dismissed Hope with a scrambled-seam delivery, caught in the outfield for 55 (39).
West Indies legend Andre Russell, who recently announced his international retirement, received a standing ovation from the adoring crowd as he walked out to bat before muscling his third delivery over the square leg boundary. However, the two-time T20 World Cup champion fell in the penultimate over to Dwarshuis, with Green holding onto a smart catch at long-off.
Dwarshuis found himself on a hat-trick after removing pinch-hitter Sherfane Rutherford for a golden duck — all-rounder Jason Holder defended the left-armed quick’s hat-trick ball but departed the very next delivery, caught by Maxwell.
The West Indies managed 4-7 from the last 16 deliveries in a dreadful late collapse, with Green claiming another superb catch on the boundary rope to topple Hetmayer for 38 (19).
Australia’s run chase got off to a scratchy start as under-fire opener Jake Fraser-McGurk awkwardly flat-batted a short delivery from Holder towards mid-off for 2 (7).
At the other end, Marsh thumped a trio of sixes into the stands before wicketkeeper Josh Inglis hit three maximums off Russell’s first over, including an extravagant reverse lap.
Speedster Alzarri Joseph removed Marsh for 24 (17) on his first delivery of the match, with the West Indies successfully overturning an on-field decision for caught behind when a faint edge appeared on Snicko. However, Green cleared the boundary rope three times during the same over to finish Australia’s Powerplay with a bang.
Hosein returned to the attack and removed Inglis, who top-edged a sweep shot towards short fine leg for 18 (8) before fellow tweaker Gudakesh Motie bamboozled Maxwell, gone for 11.
Owen and Green launched into a stunning counterpunch following Maxwell’s departure, feasting on the West Indies bowlers and targeting the short boundaries. In farcical scenes, the third umpire spent five minutes checking a run-out chance at the non-striker’s end with the assistance of Snicko technology, but Owen ultimately survived on 42.
Green brought up his fifty with consecutive boundaries but departed the very next delivery, becoming Motie’s second victim of the evening, before rising star Connolly smacked spinner Chase onto the roof.
With his family watching from the stands, Owen also departed immediately after celebrating his fifty, holing out to long-on, while Connolly edged behind to send a scare through the Australian camp.
In a late twist, West Indies substitute fielder Jewel Andrew dropped a regulation outfield catch to gift Abbott an extra life on 1, a costly blunder that denied the hosts any chance of a comeback triumph.
Earlier on Sunday, Owen was presented his maiden cap by Hurricanes captain Ellis, becoming Australia’s 112th men’s T20I cricketer. The new-look Australians were missing several of the Test stars, including Travis Head, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, who had been rested following the recent Frank Worrell Trophy whitewash.
The second T20 between the West Indies and Australia gets underway at the same venue on Wednesday, with the first ball scheduled for 10am AEST.
‘MOST OUT OF FORM BATTER IN THE WORLD’
Jake Fraser-McGurk’s worrying slump continues.
The young opener has struggled in national colours this year, with his most recent scores being 2, 9, 2, 18, 20, 9, 7, 13 and 16 across formats.
Originally omitted from Australia’s squad for the West Indies tour, Fraser-McGurk was flown across to the Caribbean at the eleventh hour as an injury replacement, while a minor side strain for Matt Short created a vacancy at the top of the order.
But on Sunday, the Victorian failed to silence his critics, scratching his way towards 2 before awkwardly flat-batting his seventh delivery towards mid-off.
BIG BASH HERO A ‘BIG GAME’ PLAYER
Six months ago, Mitchell Owen steered the Hobart Hurricanes towards their maiden Big Bash League title with a record-equalling century at Bellerive Oval.
Australian selectors rewarded the Tasmanian with a call-up for the West Indies tour — and he only needed one knock to prove he belonged at international level.
After taking a wicket in the first innings, Owen rescued Australia during the run chase with a rapid half-century, combining with Cameron Green for an 80-run partnership.
Batting out of position at No. 6, he cleared the boundary rope on six occasions, including one blow that landed out of the ground.
The Australians would be tempted to elevate him to opener for the second T20 on Wednesday.
“This is what you want to see,” former Austraian wicketekeeper Brad Haddin said in commentary.
“With a World Cup going to India, you need power at the back-end of the game to take advantage of the wickets, and (Owen) can hit sixes from anywhere.”
FRINGE SEAMER’S CAREER-BEST HAUL
With Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood rested for the T20 leg of the tour, Australia fielded an inexperienced pace attack for the series opener in Kingston.
And in their absence, Ben Dwarshuis stepped up.
The Sydney Sixers quick only conceded one run during the penultimate over of the West Indies innings while snaring three wickets, ripping through the middle order to finish with career-best figures of 4-36 from four overs.
Seven months out from the T20 World Cup campaign in the subcontinent, Dwarshuis is pressing his case to join the marquee tournament as Australia’s fifth fast bowler.
